BETHLEHEM CAROLERSEastern Slovakia
Slovak and Carpatho-Rusyn Genealogical Research
Christ is born! Glorify Him!
JASLICKARI
(All Shepherds enter the home.)
FIRST SHEPHERD: Christ is Born! Glorify Him! (Christos Razdajetsja!)
(Slavite Jeho!) Good afternoon (evening) As you see, I am not alone. My
friends and I are shepherds and we come from the land of Bethlehem. We
brought with us the manger of Bethlehem; in it rests the newly-born Savior
of the world, the Son of God. We would like to tell you the story of the
birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.
OLD SHEPHERD: Gather around me, my friends, and I will tell you what
happened to me while I tended my flock. A brilliant light appeared in the
heavens and brightened the fields around me.
(Outside... The angels begin
singing: Angels from Heaven, So Nebes Anhel.)
OLD SHEPHERD:
(The angels, while still singing, enter the house, carrying the church. When
the shepherds see the angels, they fall to their knees. The angels, still
singing, place the church down and complete their song.)
OLD SHEPHERD:
THIRD SHEPHERD: Let us go there so that we might glorify Him.
OLD SHEPHERD: Yes, my friends, let us go to Bethlehem, where God
has been born as Man. We will leave our sheep here. The Lord will look after
them for us. On our way we can sing a hymn to God.
(The shepherds stand around the church and sing:
Eternal God, Boh Predvicnyj.)
After singing of the carol, the shepherds kneel one at a time before the
church.)
FIRST SHEPHERD: O Jesus, my Savior, grant my prayer. I am but a poor
shepherd, but I do have faith in You. Grant, O Lord, that I would remain
faithful to You all my life.
SECOND SHEPHERD: O Jesus, my life's Joy, shower me with Your blessings and
grant what I pray for. My Lord, my only possession is hope in You. Strengthen
that hope always.
THIRD SHEPHERD: O Lord, like the others, I too came here to worship You. My
only gift is my love; I offer it to You. Grant that my love for You would
ever grow and grow.
FOURTH SHEPHERD: Look down upon me with mercy, 0 Savior. You have brought
salvation to men of all ages. Grant, I pray, that I too may be saved.
OLD SHEPHERD: O Lord, your aged servant humbly bows before You. Bless us, O
dear Jesus, all men, the entire world. Fill men's hearts with Your love that
they would love each other. With this beautiful hymn we offer You glory.
(All shepherds rise and sing:
Heaven and Earth, Nebo I Zemla.
After the carol, the old shepherd speaks.)
OLD SHEPHERD: My dear fellow Christians, we are
deeply grateful for your warm reception. Our sincere 'Thank You' and the
best of wishes of this Holy Christmas Season. May the good Lord Jesus, grant
you all you need. May He bless you with health and happiness. May these
gifts of the Lord be yours for many years.
All sing:
In health and happiness
MNO-HA-JA LI-TA,
VO ZDRA-VI-JI,
ALL SHEPHERDS: Christos Razdajetsja! Christ is born!
ALL: Slavite Jeho! Glorify Him!
God grant you many years
God grant you many years
God grant you many happy years.
In health and happiness
God grant you many happy years.
BLA-HA-JA LI-TA,
MNOHAJA BLA-HA-JA L'I-TA:
VO SPA-SE-NI-JI
MNO-HA-JA BLA-HA-JA L'I-TA.
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